The Saskatchewan South East Enterprise Region (SSEER) housing initiative has just completed a survey of Estevan businesses in conjunction with the Estevan and District Board of Tourism, Trade & Commerce. The survey is just one part of a broader regional housing initiative undertaken by SSEER.
"The results are quite dramatic," according to Edie Spagrud, CEO of SSEER. "While it was certainly well known that the housing shortage is hurting a lot of area businesses, Estevan survey results show the extent of that shortage is even more serious than we expected."
Estevan & District Board of Tourism, Trade and Commerce recently distributed the survey to its members and had a return rate of about 25 percent. The participating employers represented 1,600 jobs in Estevan.
Over 70 percent of the businesses increased employment in the past year and 60 percent plan to add even more jobs in 2011. One in five businesses has found it necessary to invest in housing to accommodate employees.
"That is pretty serious when you consider that these employers are not in the real estate business," said Spagrud. "But, unfortunately, that has become a business necessity for many."
Half the businesses surveyed have lost out on potential new employees when they discovered there was nowhere to live for them and their families.
"That scenario has become all too common. The unprecedented number of job vacancies in this area will continue if there is nowhere to live" said Michel Cyrenne, Manager of Estevan and District Board of Tourism, Trade and Commerce.
"Because we have an economic boom happening in the region it is easy to get complacent. One thing that easily gets lost in the current oil activity is all those businesses that are not directly linked to that industry. If we do not get some better action on housing in this region, there will be long term negative impacts for Estevan and the entire southeast. We need to keep working to diversify our economy and those businesses that supply other markets are having difficulty growing. New businesses will also avoid this area of the province if it is that difficult to house workers and their families," said Cyrenne.
One very positive result of the survey is the strong indication that local employers have in housing investments. Half the businesses surveyed said they would seriously consider investing their own money in housing projects.
"Of course, that does not mean there are cheques in the mail, but the number of businesses who have already made investments for employee housing is an indication that they are serious" said Cyrenne.
The survey is just one piece of the regional housing initiative underway by SSEER. A group of community leaders from several southeast communities have pledged their cooperation in working together to address the housing shortage. A special meeting of stakeholders with the regional housing initiative took place on January 18 to discuss and plan municipalities' role in the housing issue. Additionally, through the work of a consultant, different housing alternatives are being examined along with sourcing developers and others willing to invest in the region. The consultant's report and recommendations will be completed before the end of March.
